MOSCOW, November 20. /TASS/. Nearly 94% of Russians polled consider themselves patriots, an increase of 14% since 2016, Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) Director General Valery Fyodorov said at the Russian Identity Forum.

"The patriotic upsurge in the country began a long time ago; we’ve been recording it for over ten years. <…> In 2016, according to our polls, around 80% of adult Russians considered themselves patriots, while in 2024, according to the most recent October poll, that number has already risen to 94%," he said.

According to the VCIOM chief, around 92 to 93% of young people aged 18-24 and 25-34 consider themselves patriots. "This is the same youth <…> that has lived through all the twists and turns of the past few years," Fyodorov pointed out.

According to his data, 70% of those polled consider themselves patriots of their hometown or settlement, while 62% of respondents feel proud when they think about the current situation in Russia. Additionally, more than 80% of Russians surveyed have helped people pro bono. "Some time ago, there were different social norms, which did not include being a patriot, giving alms, or volunteering. Today, we have different social norms. And even if people speak more and do less, these words indicate a shift in the social norm. This is a very important turn of events," the VCIOM chief emphasized.

When asked what it means to love one's country, respondents gave the following answers: to love one's family (16%), to love one's place of birth or residence (14%), to be proud of it (9%), and to protect it (9%).

The Russian Identity Forum is taking place in Moscow on November 20-21. The forum is the largest platform for state and public dialogue on the issues of strengthening the all-Russian civic identity in education and youth, preservation and expansion of the spiritual, historical, and cultural heritage and potential of Russia's multinational people.